Achille Castiglioni was born in Milan, Italy in 1918. He graduated with a degree in architecture from Politecnico, Milan. He believed that the object's form should follow their inner logic and that inspiration for their creation can be found through careful observation and analysis.
His products, many of which were created with the help of his two brothers, ranged from clocks and lamps to furniture. Almost all of his lamps later became design classics. He created the Arco lamp that was inspired by street lamps. His Frisbi, created in 1978, is a hanging lamp with a flat plastic disc suspended by steel cords.
He also was famous for designing exhibitions for the Italian broadcasting network RAI. Exhibition design remained an important part of his work until his death in 2002.